Looking for 2 types of Jpop: the cheesy ones and the good ones

[saint.panda]

My supply of jpop is used up.

What I've mostly liked so far: Do as Infinity, Maaya Sakamoto, Mikuni Shimokawa and Ayumi Hamasaki (except for her wanna-be futuristic ones).


Attributes of the jpop I'm looking for:

-Category 1: Catchy tunes, bordering on kitsch but not cute, can be slightly cheesy, feel-good vibes, very often overproduced, ballade-like or slightly leaning towards rock, not trying to be too innovative.

Basically, the most important thing is pretty melodies. The exact package is less important.

-Category 2: High class work, great musicianship (meaning the female lead voice can actually sing instead of only producing nasal sounds), combined with elements of jazz or classical music. Basically the stuff that will never hit the charts but is simply great music. Pretty melodies is the main emphasis here as well.


Any suggestions? Female lead voice is a must. Ideally, it'd be something that combines categories 1 and 2.

Much obliged!

 

[calaf]

not an expert by any description, but the other day I heard (on PBS!) some songs from Ayano Tsuji and was impressed. She sings mostly her own songs and plays the hukulele. She would fall squarely in your category 2.

 

[AdamWill]

My Little Lover. any album, but The Waters is great.

 

[K2Grey]

See-Saw (Yuki Kajiura and Chiaki Ishikawa).

 

[kencer]

For the first catagory theres Koda Kumi, Yui and maaaaybe Bonnie Pink. not really sure which catagory she belongs to

another one i wouldnt know where to put would be Pizzicato Five


There is a singer who does vocal jazz...i got one of her albums in english. all cover songs tho...ill get back to you on her name

 

[Seijang]

Ever listen to The Indigo?

They did the ED songs for Ai Yori Aoshi and Someday's Dreamers. I got acquainted to them through those two animes, and they are my favorite group.

Their songs are.. I dont know what catergory. Singer sings somewhat like Karen Carpenter. Music itself is.. well it brings to mind kinda jazzy but what I do know is that it's all relaxing ;p.

YUI's LIFE (2nd newest Bleach ED) is good.

 

[KrazyIvan]

Don't know where she fits exactly but I like Namie Amuro. There are some songs by Nami Tamaki that would fit under category 1 but not all. Some are just a little to cutsie for me.

 

[dhwilkin]

Category 1: Megumi Hayashibara, get either Bertemu or Iravati, or the Best of Slayers TV & Radio collection (almost all songs on it sung by her)
Category 2: Chihiro Onitsuka; Shoko Suzuki (I have an earlier album that's sadly out of print, so I'm not sure about the albums that are still available, but the one I have is really good... favorite song from it is Ryoute Ippai, to give you an idea).

 

[BodiesOfLight]

Good ones... Malice Mizer, Moi Dix Mois, Kagrra, L'Arc en Ciel, Utada Hikaru.

That's all I can think of right now.

 

[Dachink]

Category 1: Akino Arai, D&D, ZONE, YeLLOW Generation, SAYAKA
Category 2: Ayaka Hirahara, AJICO (Jrock but whatever :/), MISIA, Chihiro Onitsuka, Shiina Ringo, and Core of Soul

 

[Jahn]

ALL MUST BOW TO THE PI,ZZI,CATO, FIVE!
But seriously, this is the only J-Pop I can listen to all the way through and not care a nugget that I can't understand more than 3 words of Japanese.

Edit- this falls under both the Cheesy and Good categories!

 

[ej82m]

Another vote for YUI. I <3 her.

 

[kencer]

Emi Fujita...thats her name. Nice Vocal Jazz music

Yui has nice sweet vocals..but so far she doesnt have an album yet....as far as im concerned that is. 3-4 Singles for now i think

 

[zChan]

Don't you have a shipment of new songs to listen to coming in next week?

Dang, I havn't really listened to female artists lately... How about Singer Songer?

 

[Elephas]

Does it have to be J-Pop? I listen to some J-Pop too but usually listen to Chinese-Pop more. Penny Dai's songs are good and her voice is very pleasant.

Ayumi Hamasaki's latest album Miss (Understood) is not bad. Some of the songs were previously released as singles.